The principle remains unchanged after 20 years: "We were founded on the saying, 'Neighbors helping neighbors,' '' said Sylvia Stickney.

But the number of neighbors being helped has grown from 14 families in 1993 to 241 last year, and the number of those doing the helping now includes schoolchildren, civic and religious groups, local businesses and former clients.

"The people in town have been very generous,'' said Stickney, who founded the Holliston Pantry Shelf with fellow residents Bobby Blair, Nancy Norris and Teresa Sharp in October 1993.

While some residents thought there wouldn't be a need for a food pantry in a comparatively affluent community, "it was evident there was a need for a pantry here,'' said Stickney.

"You'd think it's affluent,'' said Vasant Devarakonda, a Natick Labs retiree who volunteers at the 23 Water St. pantry. "You'd be surprised.''

In fact, his fellow Friday afternoon volunteer is a former customer.

"When I was out of work for six and a half years, I needed the pantry,'' said Daniel DeSevigne.

"A lot of people are afraid to use a place like this. They're embarrassed.''

But a job layoff or unexpected illness can change most any family's situation, and there is no minimum income requirement for residents to use the Pantry Shelf.

Customers must be town residents listed on the most recent census, but their names are not given to volunteers who staff the pantry. Clients register at Town Hall and receive a card that indicates the number of people in the family, which determines how many bags of groceries they can fill. A new card must be obtained each year.

Patrons can choose from a wide array of groceries that include canned goods, milk, eggs, produce from local farms and gardeners, bakery items and paper products. "We have our weekly special,'' said DeSevigne, which on Friday was pork roast. Children's books, toys, toiletries and ice cream are also available.

"There's a buoyant smile on their faces'' when people find out they can get ice cream, said Stickney, who, in her 80s, still volunteers at the pantry.

To thank the community for 20 years of support, the Holliston Pantry Shelf board of directors will host an open house at the place where the pantry first opened, before the move to Water Street in 1996. The celebration is planned from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, in Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the community support continues with students from the high school's National Honor Society collecting food donations Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 6-7:30 p.m. Dressed in costumes for Halloween, the students will go door-to-door in local neighborhoods.

Donations can also be dropped off at the pantry during operating hours, weekdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays, 4-7:30 p.m.; additional information can be found at www.hollistonpantryshelf.org.

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Julia Spitz can be reached at 508-626-3968 or jspitz@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter at SpitzJ_MW.